HowTheWestWasWon2017

The Cats should have no problem with their tourney. It will be interesting to watch Radford and possibly McCluer play as Coach Cormany will face a familiar adversary in Coach Cartolaro who used to be at Altavista. Big turnaround for the Blues this year. #LetsGoCats

Holdbacks happen.

Had some friends there at James River from Giles. They were mind blown at how small the crowd was. They expected their guys to get beat very handily, like 30 or 40, but said a buddy of his named River (true fact) caught fire. Hit something like 3 or 4 3's in a row late in the gane. They said Martinsville starters never came out even though up about 20 and that the game as a whole was very close as Giles ended up losing by 7 or 9 and had the game cut to 6 at one time. Should Martinsville of beat Giles by a very large margin? I don't think Giles is that great of a team myself. They lost by 20 to the Bobcats both times, well at least the one time that I saw them play at Radford anyway and I did not think they were very good at all then. They have lost to like a whole lot of teams. I'm not sure they have won 6 or 7 all year. Now this is coming from my friends from Giles but they said that if they actually had some people who could score they might have beat Martinsville. I really don't know about that because I saw them play Radford. "Arhletic and cover space well" is the best words I would use to describe Martinsville. Maybe they weren't all that happy about playing a team like Giles but still I would do all I could to make myself better for next week. Maybe they play down to their competition. Who knows. And if I may add the word Mavahi sounds really weird. Write M'ville or The 'Ville or something. We all know Martinsville is in Virginia and it is a high school. Mavahi sounds like you are trying to speak a foreign language. Just my opinion on it all.

If the West did it like the East this is how your regional tournament format would look: (These are all hypotheticals) Conference 38 #4 James River at Conference 37 #1 Dan River Conference 40 #3 Central Wise at Conference 39 #2 Graham Conference 39 #4 Virginia High at Conference 40 #1 Gate City Conference 37 #3 Buckingham at Conference 38 #2 Glenvar Conference 37 #4 Appomattox at Conference 38 #1 Martinsville Conference 39 #3 Grayson County at Conference 40 #2 Union Conference 40 #4 Lebanon at Conference 39 #1 Richlands Conference 38 #3 Giles at Conference 37 #2 Chatham Quarterfinals First two winners play at higher seed #2 Graham at #1 Dan River Second two winners play at higher seed #2 Glenvar at #1 Gate City Third two winners play at higher seed #2 Union at #1 Martinsville Fourth two seeds play at higher seed #2 Chatham at #1 Richlands Semifinals at James River First two winners play #1 Dan River vs #1 Gate City Second two winners play #1 Richlands vs #1 Martinsville Consolation Richlands vs Gate City Championship Dan River vs Martinsville. Probably might end up with same teams with current format but who knows this time of year. I thought it would be very interesting to see some of the matchups if the West did their tournament like the East.

I hate to burst everyone's bubble from Richlands but I came down from Tech with a friend of mine to watch this much talked about matchup with him. I am from the New River Valley and have never seen a Richlands Graham game Here were my takes on it: 1. Graham would beat Richlands right now 15 out of 20 times. The other five times they would be resting their best players. 2. Graham has the best student body this side of Roanoke. I always thought the George Wythe "Soldiers" were the best. Not anymore. 3. The PG who had outscored Richlands by himself in the 4th qtr is hard to handle and may be bad news for anyone in the postseason. And from what the PA guy said he is a junior. Wow! 4. Richlands if they are good and if they have a dream team they played like a nightmare. I hope I never have a dream like that in my life. Just give the tourney championship to Graham. They are the best team by far. 5. The Graham beardown will continue into.the future. The JV team came back to beat Richlands in OT. Richlands should have won that one too. Graham is stacked for the future. Not sure they could hang with Martinsville but all the other teams in the West better watch out. Even the much hyped Gate City and this Union team you talk of. If Union has any inside game at all and a good guard? Union would beat Richlands by 30. Richlands is not very good. These are just my takes.

Finished up some work late tonight. Saw the post. I have been to James River HS a few times watching the 'Cats play. JRHS is a very nice school located besides the James River. The gym is very new and my guess is it can hold around 2500 spectators. Lots of parking also. If this is the site it is a great one. It has held a lot of regional tournaments in the past.

2A Hoops Top Ten (entering 1/17/17 games) 1 Robert E. Lee (Staunton) 12-1 2 Martinsville 10-1 3 Gate City 8-3 4 Richlands 10-1 5 Madison County 11-1 6 East Rockingham 12-2 7 Union 10-2 8 Dan River 5-2 9 Chatham 8-2 10 Graham 7-2 1A Hoops Top Ten (entering 1/17/17 games) 1 Chilhowie 11-1 2 Honaker 10-3 3 George Wythe (Wytheville) 9-1 4 Altavista 7-2 5 Radford 8-4 6 Essex 6-0 7 Eastside 10-3 8 Lancaster 6-2 9 Mathews 10-3 10 J.I. Burton

Been watching the 'Cats this year. We have a decent team coming here tonight to play in Glenvar. They have really hurt us bad at times in the past especially in the postseason. We won our last game with them by around 20 I think. After tonight our schedule gets pretty easy except for Northside. They play pretty competitively also. Playing in 2A will be very different than 1A. People on here talk about Martinsville and Robert E. Lee as teams to beat. Martinsville graduates 5 seniors this year. Robert E. Lee graduates 3 seniors and two of them are over 6'6. Of the teams in the four regions next year, I believe I heard someone say that Gate City graduates the McClung guy. How many players do they lose with him? The reason I ask is that it looks like the Bobcats could be in prime position to make some noise either next year or especially the year after next because a lot of the major players in the postseason like Martinsville, R.E. Lee, Richlands and Gate City will all be down. What are everyone's thoughts? Am I correct in saying that these teams should be down a huge amount or do these teams have something to bank on in the future? This move to 2A is a big one for Radford but if all these teams are losing people I am thinking it will most likely not be that bad. We welcome all thoughts and comments on this.

We are midseason right in basketball. I like this site. People give a lot of information and unique opinions. So here is my specialized question for this site? Who in your opinion has done the best coaching job in basketball this year given the personnel and talent that they have to work with on their team? I will have to think about this but I would gladly like to hear everyone's opinions on this.

The name of this post is ludicrous. Just because this Gate City may have two big prospects doesn't mean they are going to win state. Do you even realize how hard it is to do that? Do you know how much luck it takes? Sounds to me like people in Gate City take winning for granted and place way too high expectations on their athletes. Winning state is a great goal but just because people think they have God's gifts to basketball doesn't mean they will win state. Some friends of mine from down in the southwest part of the state says Gate City's fans barely cheer for anything. Up here in NoVa I went to a basketball game with a friend from Tech. His team got a rim rattler on a fast break and the fans went nuts! My friends say that the two big hoop stars for Gate City get two to three dunks a game and you would think you were at a funeral! They were actually afraid to yell the crowd was so quiet. Is this really true? Are Gate City fans this bad? I know high schools, especially my friends at Radford, we would go nuts when our guys would even be able to get a dunk. Our battles with Wythe and their soldiers are EPIC! Sounds like Gate City doesn't have any soldiers. Only a bunch of armchair wannabees. Glad I went to a school with real fans who had real opponents who went nuts for their school. #GoCats!

It's early season but my Group A top 5 for now: 1. Radford 2. Altavista 3. Honaker 4. George Wythe 5. Northampton Group 2A 1. Robert E. Lee - Staunton 2. Martinsville 3. King William 4. Page County 5. Gate City Robert E. Lee is my preseason pick to win the Group 2A state championship. No one from any other conference can play with them. Basketball - Boys Varsity Roster (as of 01-3-2017) Robert E. Lee (Staunton) Number Name Height Grade 1 Velvin, Blaize 5'9 11 2 George, Darius 6'7 12 3 Williams, Jayden 6' 11 4 Pettiford, Jahleel 5'10 11 5 Johnson, Emmanuel 6'6 12 10 Vaughan, Jarvis 6'8 11 12 von Seldenick, Wilson 5'8 10 13 Haliburton, Tyrese 6'2 12 14 Kincheloe, McCarron 5'11 10 20 Dobbins, Tarrod 6'1 11 22 Castle, Everrett 6' 11 24 Elliston, Isaiah 6'3 11 32 Simmons, Douglas 6'3 11 34 Swift, Michael 6'6 11 Robert E. Lee - Staunton vs Buffalo Gap Robert E Lee High School, 88 - 48 Win Alleghany Robert E Lee High School, G 81 - 70 Win @ Wilson Memorial Wilson Memorial High School 68 - 28 Win @ Buffalo Gap Buffalo Gap High School 61 - 42 Win Wilson Memorial Robert E Lee High School 75-45 Win @ Broadway Broadway High School 62 - 35 Win Harrisonburg Robert E Lee High School 71 - 61 Win @ Turner Ashby Turner Ashby High School 78 - 36 Win Sherando Spotswood High School 67 - 54 Win Amelia County Spotswood High School 77 - 55 Win @ Fort Defiance 61 - 51 Win Group 2A Conference 36 Team OVR RGN East Rockingham Current Streak: 5 W 7-2 2-0 Page County Current Streak: 5 W 11-1 3-0 Lee Current Streak: 11 W 11-0 4-0 Stuarts Draft Current Streak: 2 W 7-2 1-1 Wilson Memorial Current Streak: 4 L 3-10 1-2 Nelson County Current Streak: 1 L 2-4 0-2 Buffalo Gap Current Streak: 8 L 0-8 0-2

Nice win! Sounds like a lot of people got involved! Was Lebanon that bad? Anyone out hurt or sick? I find it hard to believe a varsity team is really that bad to be defeated by 40 or more. Unless someone was out hurt sick or something else, that team can throw in the towel for the year.

Finished up studying. GC on a losing skid? That Arbys tournament must either be Skid Row or GC isn't as strong as advertised. It sounds as if a team were to go a tight man defense on the McClung and Ervin players they may have a chance to win by making the other players beat them. It would be my guess if this Lebanon team or any other team is able to pull this off GC may show some kinks in the armor. When the Cats lost theit best player, they weren't the same. Whether your best player gets taken out by injury or out of the game through a great defensive effort it still has some effect. Just like our Hokies in Cassell the other day getting the W. I loved being in that environment on Saturday! Grayson Allen did not play though. That's a big difference. If Lebanon doesn't do this I would guess this GC team by everybody's talk on here of the two teams probably wins by a margin of 108-59.

You know computers. They do stupid things sometimes. It was not meant to be put down 6 times. My apologies.

The City?? Is that what they call themselves? Isn't The City what Golden State has on their shirts or was that just a reference you made toward Gate City? In some ways The City might make for a cool reference of some sorts. I guess I have never heard any team referred to like that. The true test of a dynastic program is what happen after the "great players" leave. What does Gate City have after the era of McClung, Ervin and Dean players leave? From what I have read the above players are young but from what people are saying on here Gate City must have a bare cupboard on JV or else those players would have been on varsity as well. If all the great young talent is on varsity must be a helluva year to be JV coach there. LOL Best of luck to them in the Arbys. May drive down from Radtown and watch some games. See what the 'Cats have to look forward to in Group AA.

The City?? Is that what they call themselves? Isn't The City what Golden State calls has on their shirts? Or was that just a reference you made toward Gate City? In some ways The City might make for a cool reference of some sorts. I guess I have never heard any team referred to like that. The true test of a dynastic program is what happen after the "great players" leave. What does Gate City have after the era of McClung, Ervin and Dean players leave? From what I have read the above players are young but from what people are saying on here Gate City must have a bare cupboard on JV or else those players would have been on varsity as well. If all the great young talent is on varsity must be a helluva year to be JV coach there. LOL Best of luck to them in the Arbys. May drive down from Radtown and watch some games. See what the 'Cats have to look forward to in Group AA.

The City?? Is that what they call themselves? Isn't The City what Golden State calls has on their shirts? Or was that just a reference you made toward Gate City? In some ways The City might make for a cool reference of some sorts. I guess I have never heard any team referred to like that. The true test of a dynastic program is what happen after the "great players" leave. What does Gate City have after the era of McClung, Ervin and Dean players leave? From what I have read the above players are young but from what people are saying on here Gate City must have a bare cupboard on JV or else those players would have been on varsity as well. If all the great young talent is on varsity must be a helluva year to be JV coach there. LOL Best of luck to them in the Arbys. May drive down from Radtown and watch some games. See what the 'Cats have to look forward to in Group AA.

The City?? Is that what they call themselves? Isn't The City what Golden State calls has on their shirts? Or was that just a reference you made toward Gate City? In some ways The City might make for a cool reference of some sorts. I guess I have never heard any team referred to like that. The true test of a dynastic program is what happen after the "great players" leave. What does Gate City have after the era of McClung, Ervin and Dean players leave? From what I have read the above players are young but from what people are saying on here Gate City must have a bare cupboard on JV or else those players would have been on varsity as well. If all the great young talent is on varsity must be a helluva year to be JV coach there. LOL Best of luck to them in the Arbys. May drive down from Radtown and watch some games. See what the 'Cats have to look forward to in Group AA.

The City?? Is that what they call themselves? Isn't The City what Golden State calls has on their shirts? Or was that just a reference you made toward Gate City? In some ways The City might make for a cool reference of some sorts. I guess I have never heard any team referred to like that. The true test of a dynastic program is what happen after the "great players" leave. What does Gate City have after the era of McClung, Ervin and Dean players leave? From what I have read the above players are young but from what people are saying on here Gate City must have a bare cupboard on JV or else those players would have been on varsity as well. If all the great young talent is on varsity must be a helluva year to be JV coach there. LOL Best of luck to them in the Arbys. May drive down from Radtown and watch some games. See what the 'Cats have to look forward to in Group AA.

The City?? Is that what they call themselves? Isn't The City what Golden State calls has on their shirts? Or was that just a reference you made toward Gate City? In some ways The City might make for a cool reference of some sorts. I guess I have never heard any team referred to like that. The true test of a dynastic program is what happen after the "great players" leave. What does Gate City have after the era of McClung, Ervin and Dean players leave? From what I have read the above players are young but from what people are saying on here Gate City must have a bare cupboard on JV or else those players would have been on varsity as well. If all the great young talent is on varsity must be a helluva year to be JV coach there. LOL Best of luck to them in the Arbys. May drive down from Radtown and watch some games. See what the 'Cats have to look forward to in Group AA.

At the Arbys Classic ( which I have attended) you can purchase Arbys Roast Beef sandwiches. Great badketball, great atmosphere and great food. Best tourney around. This Gate City I always read about. Who all will be watching them from the board this year? Any predictions on how they will do against the team from the Bronx?

Villanova and high school basketball. Great comparison. Martinsville is and will continue to be #1 in 2A IMO because their conference schedule is made up of 4A and 5A teams. When playoff time rolls around and they play the cupcake teams from down in Hicksville SW VA USA it will be the same ol story. If Radford was 2A this year instead of next they would be the 2nd best team in 2A. And that's stil with our best player out. Group 2A still belongs to Martinsville and will belong to Mattinsville because they have way more athletes and way better competition than anybody in the sorry mountain conferences ever will. Do not build your self up believing you are all that when you haven't done anything yet. Martinsville has done it. Twice in a row in fact. I think that warrants a big fat #1 ranking. Talk on here is only talk. Get to Richmomd and prove everyone else wrong about who is best. Put up or shut up. And until you prove to the best that you are the best you will not be anything more than a hick team from the mountains that likes to run their mouth. IMO that is. (Not trying to start anything just stating facts!)

Martinsville IMO is #1 until someone unseats them. Number two is up for grabs.

http://m.roanoke.com/sports/high_schools/high-schools-martinsville-boys-basketball-beats-radford-to-start-year/article_d1a1cafa-54ca-5e00-87fe-81745f4a089c.html?mode=jqm Friends of mine from Radford who watched this game said losing our main scoring threat hurt. Radford will be ok but until he comes back they will not be as strong in my opinion. Martinsville still shows up to take care of business. The playoff situation with JMU. It is Conference 37's time to host. Every other conference has hosted the tourney since its inception. When the 2A West Region is split next year and Radford is a member of the 2A world, the Bobcats will be apart of the region with Floyd and Martinsville and the region tourney will be shared between members of their conference and I believe Buckingham and all those present Conference 37. Conference 40 and 39 will split regional hosting duties as one region and Conference 38 and 37 will split time each year hosting. Travel should be a lot better I would suspect. It should make for some great regional atmospheres as well.

Hope the top four seed win in both group divisions. Will make for some really nasty football being g played that weekend. Only upset I see could be Union over Dan River.